Ideaplants

Project Status: Intermediate – active for five years

Number of Members: approx. 15 full time members, many frequent visitors and international volunteers

Current activities:
*Maintenance of organic, permaculture garden
*Development of wind and solar energy, and conversion of diesel cars to run on vegetable oil.
*Renovation of nearby houses using sustainable building practices
*Education, courses and workshops: permaculture, herbal medicine, renewable technology, anarchism, sustainable construction, etc.

Website: http://www.escanda.org/
Email: escanda-info@gmx.net
Telephone: (+34) 985493696

Escanda stands for Espacio Socaial Colectivo para la Autogestión, la Diversidad y la Autonomía. This is a collective consisting of approximately fifteen permanent members, who live together in a large house in the mountains near Pola de Lena in Asturias, North Spain. They have developed the project over the last five years. The residents come from many countries, as well as Spain, and have a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences. They unite for some common goals, which are primarily political, environmental and social. They aim to develop and revitalize the countryside in Asturias, which is suffering neglect from decades of emigration and heavy industry, while reducing dependency on capitalist services and the government. In addition they seek to implement ecological, sustainable technologies and practices, such as renewable wind power and cars that run on used vegetable oil from local restaurants. They wish to achieve these goals through the principles of anarchism, harmonious team-work and non-hierarchical decision-making.

The atmosphere at the collective is always vibrant, friendly and positive, while meal-times are particularly lively. The large number of visitors (up to 300 per year) each guarantee this. They come to partake in events, courses, workshops and actions organised by the “Escandeleros” (the permanent members), or as WWOOF volunteers. Most activities centre around the large casa, while on-going projects involve renovating two smaller houses and tending the large organic garden and apple orchard. Daily tasks are performed on a rota basis, each member and visitor volunteering for cooking, cleaning, recycling etc. whenever they can. Education is a fundamental goal of Escanda, not just for the members and volunteers, but also of the local community and especially for children, who deserve the kind of future the project envisions.

Video on Escanda (in Spanish):

Fotos: www.escanda.org

Truely inspiring. Thanks to Brendan & Kim for your input!